The Ryan budget passed by the House of Representatives would eviscerate the food stamp program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Tens of millions of children could go hungry. Congress must stop choosing corporations over children. Big oil and gas companies enjoy record profits yet still get billions of dollars in tax breaks each year. Come together with advocates from across the country this July 22-25 in Cincinnati Ohio as we form local, state, and national Children’s Action Teams to stand up and speak out for children and the poor. Let’s stop Congress from choosing corporate profits over children and the poor.

This week, CDF-Texas will honor these five extraordinary young people with a Beat the Odds® scholarship at the annual Houston awards ceremony. Each one has overcome enormous challenges to achieve academically while giving back to their community. Marian Wright Edelman will be the keynote speaker with a special introduction by CDF-Texas 2000 Beat the Odds scholarship winner, Moises Cedillos. On the 4th of July, Cedillos came to America when he was four. Illegal immigrants from Ecuador, the Cedillos family struggled to make it in America. Moises worked as a janitor at a day care center when he was 8 years old. By age 13 he was cleaning up after adults at a grocery store. Teachers often provided food and clothing. Through it all, Moises excelled in school. Today, Moises Cedillos is a lawyer and a permanent resident of the United States and a shining example of a CDF-Beat the Odds alumnus.

Next month, more than 1,200 college students will arrive at the foothills of Tennessee to begin a summer with the CDF Freedom Schools® program. The CDF Freedom Schools National Training transforms these young leaders into teachers and mentors for low-income children across the country this summer and often changes their lives in the process. Meet Jeremy Smith from Rochester, New York.

Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota (CDF-MN) celebrated a legislative victory for Minnesota children. On Monday, April 30, CDF-MN joined Governor Mark Dayton in signing legislation into law that will have a significant impact on the healthy development of infants and toddlers who have been abused or neglected, are homeless or have a mom suffering from undiagnosed and untreated maternal depression.